How to Travel in Tibet for the First Time?

Tibet is such a wonderful and mysterious place that you may find it impossible to fully know it from only one or two visits in there. Then how to travel in Tibet for the first time? Well, there are mainly two districts favored by most travelers in Tibet, and you are not supposed to miss them during your first travel in Tibet:

little lamas

The first one is Lhasa. Lhasa is the capital city of Tibet. Here, you may visit the holy Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple and the Ramoche Temple. In the suburb of Lhasa, there is the Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Gandan Monastery, Tsupu Monastery and Norbulingka Palace. Besides, you may also visit the Yangpachen hot spring and the highest lake: Namsto Lake.

an old tibetan woman

The second one is Shigatse. There is the Tashilhunpo Monastery (the ancient temple for all Panchen Lamas), Sakya Monastery, which is also called “the second Dunhuang”(Dunhuang is famous for its Mogao Grottoes), Shalu Monastery and Palkor Monastery.

Tashilunpo Minastery

Of course, there are many other famous scenic spots in Tibet, but the above-said spots are mainly suggested for those travelers who travel to Tibet for the first time and want most to know the Tibet culture as well as the Tibetan Buddhism. You may choose an 8-day Lhasa-Shigatse and Namtso tour which covers almost all the scenic spots I’ve said above to fully enjoy exploring the Tibet culture; or the 6-day Lhasa-Gyantse-Shigatse tour, if you are quite in hurry. The said two tours are both very popular among foreign travelers who travel to Tibet for the first time. Or you may go to the central Tibet cultural tour to select your own itinerary.

Here aresome tips for you:

First, you need apply for China visa as well as Tibet travel permit to be allowed to travel to Tibet;

Second, you should be aware of the risk of high altitude illness before entering Tibet, you may take some medicines in advance, experts also say that black sugar may help avoid high altitude illness;

Third, book the Tibet train tickets as soon as possible and pack proper clothes, by the way, don’t forget sunglasses or sun cream.